Supported hypo/hyperthermia pad

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a first conformable material having a three-dimensional shape and a first hypothermia and/or hyperthermia device. This invention is used as a pad for sleeping, lying down, or sitting, to maintain a desired temperature to the contacting surface of a body to the pad.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

[0001] The present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional patentapplication No. 60/128,433, filed on Apr. 6, 1999.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a pad that provideshypo/hyperthermia properties to a person using the pad.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,708, Chen discloses a gelatinous elastomercomposite article. These articles, as disclosed by Chen, “include: GMG,MGM, MG₁G₂M, M₁M₂G₁G₂, M₂M₁G₁G₂, G₁MG₁G₂, MG₁G₂, G₁G₂M, G₂G₁M, GM₁M₂G,G₁M₁G₂M₂M₁, M₁GM₂GM₃GM₄, [sic] ect, where G=gel and M=material. Thesubscript 1, 2, 3, and 4 are different and are represented by n which isa positive number. The material (M) suitable for forming compositearticles with the gelatinous elastomer compositions can include foam,plastic fabric, metal, concrete, wood, wire screen, refractory material,glass, synthetic resin, synthetic fibers, and the like. Sandwiches ofgel/material . . . are ideal for use as shock absorbers, acousticalisolators, vibration dampers, vibration isolators and wrappers. Forexample the vibration isolators can be [sic] use under researchmicroscopes, office equipment, tables, and the like to remove backgroundvibrations.” U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,708, col. 3, lines 35-51. Chen furtherdiscloses, “generally the molten gelatinous elastomer composition willadhere sufficiently to certain plastics (e.g., acrylic, ethylenecopolymers, nylon, polybutylene, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyester,polyethylene, polypropylene, styrene copolymers, and the like) providedthe temperature of the molten gelatinous elastomer composition is [sic]sufficient high to fuse or nearly fuse with the plastic. In order toobtain sufficient adhesion to glass, ceramics, or certain metals,sufficient temperature is also required (e.g., above 250° F. [121°C.]).” U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,708, col. 9, lines 8-18 (brackets added forconsistency of temperature comparison).

[0004] Elkins in U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,304 describes a bedding system withselective heating and cooling of a person. That system has, from top tobottom, in order: a top mattress cover, a gas envelope and amultiplicity of liquid flow channels. The multiplicity of liquid flowchannels is accomplished by a conventional hypo/hyperthermia blanket.The details of this conventional blanket are set forth in this patent. Aproblem with this system occurs when a person is on the mattress cover.When the person is on that mattress cover, the person has two sides: (1)a “contacting side” that touches the mattress cover and (2) the “exposedside” that does not touch the mattress cover. The person disperses thegas-envelope and only certain portions of the contacting side contactthe flow channels. As shown in FIG. 5 of that patent, the shoulders andother peripheral points of the contacting side of the person, such asarms, do not contact the flow channels. Thereby, that bedding systemfails to transfer the desired temperature of the flow channels uniformlyto all sections of the contacting side of the person.

[0005] M. Figman in U.S. Pat. No. 3,266,064, and von der Heyde in U.S.Pat. No. 5,887,304 illustrate conventional convective medium mattresssystem which essentially has a lower “box spring” and a mattress made ofrubber, foam, or conventional mattress materials that an individual orobject lies thereon. In each embodiment, the lower box spring has acavity that the medium enters and distributes throughout. The mediumthen escapes from the cavity through apertures of the mattress.

[0006] A problem with these apertures 89 is that they kink 90 when anadult lies 22 thereon, as shown in FIG. 8. Please note that von derHeyde's system is designed for an infant, not an adult. And an infant isof such low weight that kinking is essentially nonexistent.

[0007] When kinking occurs, the medium is prevented from contacting thebody. And when the medium does not contact the body, the medium isunable to treat the hypothermia or hyperthermia portions of the patientthat contact the mattress, or even cool or heat the portions of thepatient that contact the mattress.

[0008] The present invention solves this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention relates to a first conformable materialhaving a three-dimensional shape and a first hypothermia and/orhyperthermia device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0010] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described indetail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0011]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention; and

[0012] FIGS. 2-7 are alternative embodiments of FIG. 1.

[0013]FIG. 8 is prior art of an adult patient on a conventional mattresssystem with apertures.

[0014]FIG. 9 is the present invention of an adult patient on agelatinous elastomeric material with apertures.

[0015]FIG. 10 is an alternative embodiment of the present invention witha conventional blanket.

[0016]FIG. 11 is an alternative embodiment of FIG. 10 with a convectiveblanket.

[0017]FIG. 12 is an alternative embodiment of FIG. 7.

[0018]FIG. 12a is an enlarged version of material 18 of FIG. 12.

[0019]FIG. 13 is an alternative embodiment of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020]FIG. 1 illustrates a pad 10 having a first sealable bag 12, afirst hypothermia and/or hyperthermia device 14, and a pad cover 16. Thebag 12 contains at least a first conformable material 18, and athermally conductive medium 20. The thermal conductive medium 20 is anyliquid or viscous gel that transfers energy generated by the device 14to a patient (not shown). Examples of this liquid include water,water-based solutions, oil-based solutions, oils, alcohols, mixturesthereof, and viscous gels.

[0021] The conformable material 18 is any material having apertures thatdo not easily kink, preferably, a gelatinous elastomeric material.Examples of types of gelatinous materials, which are heat formable andheat reversible, are fully described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,369,284,4,618,213, 5,262,468, 5,336,708, and 5,508,334, which are herebyincorporated by reference herein, and those made by Pittsburgh Plastic.The gelatinous materials manufactured by Pittsburgh Plastic areallegedly distinct from the patented types. This conformable materialcan be of any shape or design, so long as it has a three-dimensionalshape that supports a patient or object on the pad 10.

[0022] The hypothermia and/or hyperthermia device 14 is any conventionalhypo/hyperthermia blanket—an example of this blanket is the MUL-T-PAD®or the THERMACARE® blanket by Gaymar Industries, Inc. of Orchard Park,N.Y.—and its corresponding pump—the MEDI-THERM II® temperature regulatorby Gaymar Industries, Inc. of Orchard Park, N.Y.—, an electric blanket,a cold compress, and a convective device. The convective device pumps orblows air or other gaseous medium (collectively “Air”) having apredetermined temperature. The Air obtains the desired temperature in aconventional Air temperature regulator (for example, an air conditioner,a heat pump, a ThermaCare® blower unit, or the MEDI-THERM II®temperature regulator) and then circulates through a mesh screen likethe Air Queen by Teijin, Inc. or a nonwoven polymeric device having aplurality, of tubes with numerous apertures therein. The Air is thendistributed throughout the entire pad 10. In any embodiment of device14, the device 14 affects the temperature that a patient (not shown) orobject (not shown) is exposed to, and, in some embodiments, the medium20 that encompasses the conformable material 18.

[0023] The bag 12 is any sealable instrument that contains at least thethermally conductive medium 20 and conformable material 18 in place.Preferably, the bag 12 is plastic, and it can be sealed thermally,acoustically, by a zipper, zip locked, or even by Velcro®.

[0024] The pad cover 16 is any conventional material used to cover a pad10. The pad cover 16 can encompass the entire pad 10, the preferredembodiment as shown, or cover the pad 10 like a conventional mattresssheet. In either embodiment the pad cover 16 can be cloth, leather,plastic or conventional cover material. The materials of the pad cover16 allow the patient or object, on the pad 10, to feel the desiredtemperature of the pad 10 (Air or medium 20). The pad cover 16 can alsoallow moisture to pass through it. Thereby, it helps control thepatient's temperature and prevents overcooling or overheating.

[0025] Turning to FIG. 2, a patient 22 disperses a portion of thethermal conductive medium 20 in the bag 12 and contacts at least aportion of the conformable material 18 when the patient 22 lies on thepad 10. The conformable material 18 provides support to the patient 22,increases the effective surface contact of the pad 10 to the patient 22to ensure greater desired thermal conductivity to the patient 22,maintains the stability of the bag 12, and reduces the pressure to thepatient 22. By maintaining the stability of the bag 12, the conformablematerial 18 ensures the patient (or object) 22, on the pad 10, fromdirectly contacting the hypothermia and/or hyperthermia device 14. Inother words, the patient 22 does not “bottom out” to or directly contactthe device 14.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the conformable material 18 hasapertures 24. The apertures 24, in this embodiment, go from the bottomto the top of the material 18 and ensure the thermal conductive medium20 is between the patient 22 and the hypothermia and/or hyperthermiadevice 14. However, in order to decrease, and essentially avoid,kinking—which is discussed above and, as a reminder, inhibits the medium20 or the Air from contacting the patient—and which is common in manymattress materials, the preferred embodiment of the conformable material18 is a gelantinous elastomer material. The gelantinous elastomermaterial has a structure design that admittedly bends and indents, asshown in FIG. 9, when a patient lies thereon, but does not kink.Thereby, the Air or medium can go through the apertures 24.

[0027] The hypothermia and/or hyperthermia device 14 heats or cools thethermal conductive material 20 and the patient 22 to a predeterminedtemperature. Since the thermal conductive material 20 contacts most, ifnot all, portions of the contacting side 23 of the patient 22, thematerial 20 ensures a uniform, or nearly uniform application of thepredetermined temperature to the contacting side 23.

[0028] Turning to FIG. 3, the pad 10 contains at least a second bag 12a. The second bag 12 a has at least a second conformable material 18 aand a second thermal conductive material 20 a. The second thermalconductive material 20 a, the second bag 12 a, and the secondconformable material 18 a can be the same or different materials as thepreviously listed corresponding elements 12, 18, 20.

[0029] Turning to FIG. 4, an alternative embodiment of FIG. 3 is shown.A second hypothermia and/or hyperthermia device 14 a is positioned underthe second bag 12 a. The second hypothermia and/or hyperthermia device14 a can be set at the same or different temperature as the hypothermiaand/or hyperthermia device 14. Thereby, the first thermally conductivematerial 20 can apply one temperature to one portion of the contactingside 23 b of the patient 22 and the second thermally conductive material20 a can apply the same or a different predetermined temperature toanother portion contacting side 23 c.

[0030] Turning to FIG. 5, an alternative embodiment of FIG. 4 is shown.A third conformable material 18 b underlies the hypothermia and/orhyperthermia devices 14, 14 a. This material 18 b offers further supportto the patient 22, maintains the stability of the bags 12, 12 a, andfurther reduces the pressure to the patient 22. Obviously, this thirdmaterial 18 b can underlie, or alternatively be over (not shown), thehypothermia and/or hyperthermia device(s) 14, 14 a of FIGS. 1-4.

[0031] Turning to FIG. 6, an alternative embodiment of FIG. 1 is shown.The hyperthermia and/or hypothermia device 14 is within the bag 12under, or alternatively be over (not shown), the conformable material 18and surrounded by the thermal conductive medium 20. In this embodiment,the conventional inlet-outlet 77 of the device 14, i.e., the pump hosesof the MEDI-THERM II® system, protrudes from the sealed bag 12.Obviously this embodiment can be used in the other embodimentsillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0032]FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment of FIG. 1, whereinthe conformable material is not inserted in a bag 12 or surrounded by amedium 20. In this embodiment, the hypothermia and/or hyperthermiadevice 14 is a convective unit and the Air goes through the apertures 24of the gelatinous elastomer material 18.

[0033]FIGS. 12 and 12a illustrate an alternative embodiment of FIG. 7.Along with the apertures 24, the conformable material 18 has a pluralityof side apertures 24 a interspaced between the upper wall 560 and alower wall 562 of the material 18. Side apertures 24 a receive Air andthen distribute the Air throughout the conformable material 18.

[0034] In one embodiment (like that shown in FIG. 7) the device 14 ispositioned below the conformable material 18. In yet another embodiment,as shown in FIG. 12, the device 14 is positioned at an end 563 of theconformable material 14. Thereby the Air goes into the side apertures 24a and is distributed throughout the conformable material 18 andapertures 24, to effect the patient's 22 temperature.

[0035] Turning to FIG. 13, another embodiment of the present inventionrelates to the positioning of the hypothermia and/or hyperthermia device14. The device 14 can also be positioned above the conformable material18. The device 14 adjusts the temperature of the air within the pad 10,and that air cools or heats or maintains the temperature of the patient22. The air also circulates through the pad 10 within the apertures 24(and maybe 24 a).

[0036] Turning to FIGS. 10 and 11, the Air of FIG. 7 circulates underthe cover 16, and escapes from, preferably predetermined, a gap 345 inthe cover. Extending from gap 345 is a tube 347, flexible or not, thatdirects the Air under a conventional blanket 348, as shown in FIG. 10,or into an aperture 349 of a convective blanket 350, like theTHERMACARE® blanket by Gaymar Industries, Inc., as shown in FIG. 11.

[0037] Alternatively, the pad cover 16 has a material that transfers thetemperature to the patient but influences the Air to a predeterminedgap(s) 345 in the pad 10. The predetermined gap(s) 345 can be locatedanywhere within the pad, i.e. at the bottom of the pad, a side of thepad as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, if necessary, under the patient 22, orunder the blanket 348 directly.

[0038] Turning to the method of the invention the preferred embodimentof the present invention is as an operating table pad and/or any otherstructure or object used in an operating room or hospital-like mattresssystem, such as bed systems or seat cushions. An operating technicianinserts at least one pad 10, having a hypothermia and/or hyperthermiadevice 14, and a conformable material 18, under a predetermined area ofa patient 22. The technician then adjusts the device 14 to apredetermined temperature, in some instances the device 14 can onlyobtain one temperature. In either case, the device 14 adjusts the pad 10to the predetermined temperature. At any time before or after the device14 is initially adjusted to the predetermined temperature, the patient22 lies on the pad 10 and the contacting side 23 of the patient 22 willbe or is exposed to the predetermined temperature.

[0039] Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention hasbeen illustrated and described in detail for illustrative purposes, itwill be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosedapparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope ofthe invention defined by the claims.

[0040] The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive propertyor privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

We claim:
 1. A pad comprising a first sealable bag, the first sealablebag has at least a first conformable material having a three-dimensionalreformable shape and a first thermally conductive medium; and a firsthypothermia and/or hyperthermia device near the first conformablematerial to alter the temperature of the first thermally conductivemedium.
 2. The pad of claim 1 where in the first hypothermia and/orhyperthermia device is below the first conformable material.
 3. The padof claim 1 wherein the first hypothermia and/or hyperthermia device isabove the first conformable material.
 4. The pad of claim 1 wherein thefirst sealable bag and the first hypothermia and/or hyperthermia deviceare enclosed in a pad cover.
 5. The pad of claim 1 wherein the firstconformable material is a gelatinous elastomeric material.
 6. The pad ofclaim 1 further comprising a a second sealable bag, the second sealablebag has at least a second conformable material and a second thermallyconductive medium.
 7. The pad of claim 1 wherein the first thermallyconductive medium is a liquid.
 8. The pad of claim 7 wherein the liquidis selected from the group consisting of water, a water-based solution,an alcohol, an oil solution, or mixtures thereof.
 9. The pad of claim 6wherein the second conformable material is a gelatinous elastomericmaterial.
 10. The pad of claim 1 wherein the first thermally conductivemedium is a viscous gel.
 11. The pad of claim 1 wherein a thirdconformable material underlies the hypothermia and/or hyperthermiadevice.
 12. The pad of claim 1 wherein the first hypothermia and/orhyperthermia device is a hypo/hyperthermia blanket.
 13. The pad of claim1 wherein the first hypothermia and/or hyperthermia device is anelectric heating pad.
 14. The pad of claim 1 wherein the firsthypothermia and/or hyperthermia device is a cold compress.
 15. The padof claim 1 wherein the pad is used on an operating table.
 16. The pad ofclaim 6 further comprising a second hypothermia and/or hyperthermiadevice positioned near the second conformable material, to provide thesame or different temperature as the first hypothermia and/orhyperthermia device.
 17. The pad of claim 16 where in the secondhypothermia and/or hyperthermia device is below the first conformablematerial.
 18. The pad of claim 16 wherein the second hypothermia dnd/orhyperthermia device is above the first conformable material.
 19. Amethod of using a pad comprising the step of: inserting a first sealablebag into the pad, the sealable bag has at least a first conformablematerial and a first thermally conductive medium; and adjusting a firsthypothermia and/or hyperthermia device positioned near the firstconformable material to obtain a predetermined temperature for thethermally conductive medium, the first conformable material has athree-dimensional reformable shape.
 20. The method of claim 19 whereinthe hypothermia and/or hyperthermia device is below the firstconformable material.
 21. The method of claim 19 wherein the hypothermiaand/or hyperthermia device is above the first conformable material. 22.The method of claim 19 wherein the first sealable bag and the firsthypothermia and/or hyperthermia device are enclosed in a pad cover. 23.The method of claim 19 wherein the first conformable material is agelatinous elastomeric material.
 24. The method of claim 19 furthercomprising a second sealable bag, the second sealable bag has at least asecond conformable material and a second thermally conductive medium.25. The method of claim 19 wherein the first thermally conductive mediumis a liquid.
 26. The method of claim 25 wherein the liquid is selectedfrom the group consisting of water, a water-based solution, an alcohol,an oil solution, or mixtures thereof.
 27. The method of claim 24 whereinthe first hypothermia and/or hyperthermia device is under the secondconformable material.
 28. The method of claim 19 wherein the firstthermally conductive medium is a viscous gel.
 29. The method of claim 19wherein a third conformable material underlies the hypothermia and/orhyperthermia device.
 30. The method of claim 19 wherein the firsthypothermia and/or hyperthermia device is a hypo/hyperthermia blanket.31. The method of claim 19 wherein the first hypothermia and/orhyperthermia device is an electric heating pad.
 32. The method of claim19 wherein the first hypothermia and/or hyperthermia device is a coldcompress.
 33. The method of claim 19 wherein the pad is used on anoperating table.
 34. The method of claim 24 further comprising the stepof altering a second hypothermia and/or hyperthermia device, positionednear the second conformable material, to provide the same or differenttemperature as the first hypothermia and/or hyperthermia device.
 35. Thepad of claim 1 wherein the first hypothermia and/or hyperthermia deviceis within the first sealable bag.
 36. The pad of claim 1 wherein thefirst hypothermia and/or hyperthermia device is below the first sealablebag.
 37. The method of claim 19 wherein the first hypothermia and/orhyperthermia device is within the first sealable bag.
 38. The method ofclaim 19 wherein the first hypothermia and/or hyperthermia device isbelow the first sealable bag.
 39. The pad of claim 1 wherein the firsthypothermia and/or hyperthermia device distributes convective energy.40. The method of claim 19 wherein the first hypothermia and/orhyperthermia device distributes convective energy.
 41. The pad of claim6 wherein the first hypothermia and/or hyperthermia device is under thesecond conformable material.
 42. The method of claim 24 wherein thesecond conformable material is a gelatinous elastomeric material.
 43. Apad comprising a first gelatinous elastomeric material having athree-dimensional shape and a plurality of apertures interspacedthroughout the first gelatinous elastomeric material; a first convectivehypothermia and/or hyperthermia device near the first gelatinouselastomeric material.
 44. The pad of claim 43 where in the firsthypothermia and/or hyperthermia device is below the first conformablematerial.
 45. The pad of claim 43 wherein the first hypothermia dnd/orhyperthermia device is above the first conformable material.
 46. The padof claim 43 wherein the first hypothermia and/or hyperthermia device ison the side of the first conformable material.
 47. The pad of claim 43wherein of the first conformable material has at least one firstaperture from a top surface to a bottom surface of the first conformablematerial surface.
 48. The pad of claim 47 wherein the first conformablematerial has at least one second aperture positioned between a firstlateral surface and a second lateral surface of the first conformablematerial.
 49. The pad of claim 4 wherein the first conformable materialhas at least one aperture from a top surface to the bottom surface ofthe first conformable material.
 50. The pad of claim 43 wherein thefirst convective hypothermia and/or hyperthermia device is below asecond gelatinous elastomeric material.
 51. The pad of claim 50 furthercomprising a second convective hypothermia and/or hyperthermia devicewhich is below the second gelatinous elastomeric material, to providethe same or different temperature as the first convective hypothermiaand/or hyperthermia device.
 52. The pad of claim 39 further comprising ablanket over the pad.
 53. The pad of claim 52 wherein the convectiveenergy is directed into the blanket.
 54. The pad of claim 52 wherein theconvective energy is directed below the blanket.
 55. The method of claim40 further comprising a blanket over the pad.
 56. The method of claim 55wherein the convective energy is directed into the blanket.
 57. Themethod of claim 55 wherein the convective energy is directed below theblanket.
 58. The pad of claim 43 further comprising a blanket over thepad.
 59. The pad of claim 58 wherein the convective energy is directedinto the blanket.
 60. The pad of claim 58 wherein the convective energyis directed below the blanket.